“In theory the prevention of falls is simple. Nearly all falls result from conditions or practices whose hazard is obvious or readily discoverable. In practice, however, prevention is difficult because the detail involved is very great and it is necessary to improve the performance of practically everyone.” —From Safety Subjects, U.S. Division of Labour Standards, […] Read more
Taking steps to prevent slips, trips and falls on the farm
Attitude and the senior farmer
A safety audit of your farm is a great step to determine its current situation
Senior farmers have experience in spades. You have seen it all. Good years, great yields, good(ish) prices. Bad years, terrible yields, awful prices. You can probably fix it all. (Almost – some of that new equipment has many computer components.) You know your land like the back of your hand. What about physical capability? Is […] Read more
Keeping your grandchildren safe on the farm
If you talk to any grandparent, they say that having children was wonderful, but having grandchildren is pure joy. There’s nothing better than having a grandchild throw their arms around your neck and whisper “I love you.” These young people are a farm’s future and a grandparent’s legacy. The farm is an incredible place for […] Read more
Making farming safer for senior producers
In Canada, the face of farming is changing. More primary agricultural producers are women, and in the first time since 1991, the proportion of farmers under the age of 35 rose. However, the 2016 Agriculture Census also found that there were more farmers over age 70 than under 35. The reality of Canadian agricultural is […] Read more
Protecting workers and your farm
When you tally up your assets on your farm, you probably count the big ones: land, machinery, inputs, buildings, stored grain. But do you count your people? Your workers, your family and yourself? You should. These folks are your number one asset and as such need to be guided and protected. Keeping these people safe […] Read more
Back to safety basics in the New Year
With a new year comes resolutions. This year, instead of making a resolution to do something you’ve never done before, what if you made a resolution to perform daily tasks properly and safely? Something like operating a tractor? Tractors are essential to farm operations. From field work to feeding the livestock to cleaning snow, tractors […] Read more
Safely transport oversize loads
Farm safety: Tips to get your equipment to the field and back again
With larger farm equipment comes larger transportation challenges. Equipment wider than highway lanes poses a hazard to not only the equipment operator, but also to other motor vehicle operators. Tall equipment can come into contact with low-hanging wires, bridges and other vital pieces of infrastructure. Collisions with other vehicles is a major concern while transporting […] Read more
Mental health on the farm: understanding stress
According to a 2005 report, almost two-thirds of Canadian farmers are feeling stressed on their farms. One in five farmers describe themselves as being “very stressed” while almost half (45 per cent) describe themselves as being “somewhat stressed.” Stress is all around us. Understanding it and managing it are essential in having healthy minds and […] Read more
Farm safety conference to focus on new and emerging agricultural trends
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) will holdits 23rd annual conference “Agsafety — Make it a Record Year!” and annual general meeting in Edmonton, Alta., from October 3 to 5, 2017. “Farming is dynamic,” says Marcel Hacault, CASA’s Executive Director. “Trends, technology and legislation affect how we deal with farm health and safety. CASA is […] Read more
Keep safety top of mind when cleaning out grain bins
A key reason people become entrapped in grain is that grain stored in bins is out of condition. A farmer enters the bin to break down the crusted grain and tragedy strikes, grain comes tumbling down and the person is engulfed. If grain is kept in good condition, no one has to enter the bin, […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
